ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
Who Can Apply for The Self Employed Program?
To be eligible for this program, one must:
Have relevant experience in cultural activities or athletics
Be willing and able to make a significant contribution to the cultural or athletic life of Canada
Meet the program’s selection criteria
Meet medical, security and other conditions
If you plan to live in Quebec as a business immigrant, you must first apply to the Government of Québec for a Selection Certificate.
Note: IRCC has paused this program until January 2027
Relevant Experience
Relevant experience for a self-employed person means at least two years of experience. It must be during the period starting 5 years before the day you apply and ending on the day a decision is made on your application.
At a minimum, your experience must be:
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For cultural activities:
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2 one-year periods being self-employed in cultural activities, or
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2 one-year periods participating at a world-class level in cultural activities, or
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A combination of a one-year period described in (a), and a one-year period described in (b)
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For athletics:
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2 one-year periods being self-employed in athletics, or
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2 one-year periods participating at a world class level in athletics, or
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A combination of a one-year period described in (a) above, and a one-year period described in (b) above
Selection Criteria
The application under self employed program is assessed on the basis of following points
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Experience
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Education
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Age
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Language abilities
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Adaptability
Selection Criteria | Maximum Points |
|---|---|
Education | 25 |
Experience | 35 |
Age | 10 |
Ability in English and/or French | 24 |
Adaptability | 6 |
TOTAL | 100 |
- 01
- 02
- 03
- 04
- 05
HOW TO APPLY
You can apply online by filling digital forms, or you can use an immigration representative.
An immigration representative (an immigration consultant or lawyer) can:
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Give you advice and help you with your application for a fee
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Help you prepare the forms and documents you need to upload
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Answer questions about the forms
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Communicate with us on your behalf through their own account.
DECISION ON YOUR APPLICATION
IRCC will make a decision on your application based on:
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Whether you meet the eligibility criteria for the program
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Whether you have enough money to support yourself and your family when you arrive in Canada
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The results of your medical exam and
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The information on your police certificate(s)
The office that processes your application will contact you if you need to send more documents or go to an interview.
If your application is approved, IRCC will ask you to send your passport to the visa office to issue your permanent resident visa.
